Protective device for a motorcycle

• US 20060061062A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buell Motorcycle Company
• Original Assignee: Buell Motorcycle Company
• Inventors: Buell, Erik F., Fiacchino, Stephen, Samarzja, Michael D., Sucharski, Brian R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,144,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/304.300
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 23/00 Other protectors specially adapted for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/30 Crash bars; Crash bungs

Abstract

A protective device for a motorcycle. The protective device protects portions of the motorcycle, such as the frame and body panels, from damage due to a tip-over incident or a sliding incident. The protective device of some embodiments includes a shell and a cushion designed to disperse and absorb impact energy. The shell is coupled to the motorcycle with an adhesive. The adhesive has a high shear strength to prevent removal of the shell during a sliding incident.

Claims

1. A protective device for protecting a motorcycle having a point of impact with the ground during a tip-over incident, the protective device comprising:

a shell having a recess; and

a cushion positioned within the recess of the shell;

wherein the shell and the cushion deform to absorb energy and protect the point of impact of a motorcycle during a tip-over incident.

2. The protective device of claim 1, further comprising high shear strength adhesive coupled to the shell and positioned to contact the motorcycle near the point of impact.

3. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the cushion is coupled to the shell with an adhesive.

4. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the cushion is foam.

5. The protective device of claim 4, wherein the foam has a density of about 1.5 pounds per cubic inch.

6. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the shell is made from a semi-rigid plastic.

7. The protective device of claim 6, wherein the shell is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the shell has an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of ribs extending across at least a portion of the inner surface and defining the recess.

9. The protective device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of ribs comprise a first set of ribs extending in first direction and a second set of ribs extending in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

10. The protective device of claim 9, wherein the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.

11. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the shell has an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of ribs extending from an outer periphery of the shell toward the recess, the ribs have a height extending away from the inner surface, the height of each rib being the greatest adjacent the recess.

12. A motorcycle comprising:

an area subjected to impact forces with the ground due to a tip-over incident;

a protective device coupled to the area, the protective device comprising;

a shell having a recess; and

a cushion positioned within the recess of the shell;

wherein the shell and the cushion deform to absorb energy and protect the area during a tip-over incident.

13. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the area subjected to impact forces is a side of a gas tank.

14. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the protective device further comprises a high shear strength adhesive coupled to the shell and positioned to contact the motorcycle near the point of impact.

15. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the cushion is coupled to the shell with an adhesive.

16. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the cushion is foam.

17. The motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the foam has a density of about 1.5 pounds per cubic inch.

18. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the shell is made from a semi-rigid plastic.

19. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the shell is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

20. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the shell has an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of ribs extending across at least a portion of the inner surface and defining the recess.

21. The motorcycle of claim 20, wherein the plurality of ribs comprise a first set of ribs extending in first direction and a second set of ribs extending in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

22. The motorcycle of claim 21, wherein the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.

23. The motorcycle of claim 12, wherein the shell has an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of ribs extending from an outer periphery of the shell toward the recess, the ribs have a height extending away from the inner surface, the height of each rib being the greatest adjacent the recess.

24. A protective device for protecting a motorcycle having a point of impact with the ground during a tip-over incident, the protective device comprising:

a semi-rigid shell having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of ribs extending across at least a portion of the inner surface;

a high shear strength adhesive coupled to the shell and positioned to contact near the point of impact;

wherein the shell and the ribs deform to absorb energy and protect the point of impact of a motorcycle during a tip-over incident.

25. The protective device of claim 24, wherein several of the ribs are positioned to at least partially define a recess.

26. The protective device of claim 25, wherein the ribs have a height extending away from the inner surface, the height of each rib being the greatest adjacent the recess.

27. The protective device of claim 25, further comprising a foam cushion positioned within the recess of the shell.

28. The protective device of claim 27, wherein the foam cushion is coupled to the shell with an adhesive.

29. The protective device of claim 27, wherein the foam has a density of about 1.5 pounds per cubic inch.

30. The protective device of claim 24, wherein the shell is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

31. The protective device of claim 24, wherein the plurality of ribs comprise a first set of ribs extending in first direction and a second set of ribs extending in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

32. The protective device of claim 31, wherein the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.